• Canada–U.S. trade supported 7.1 million U.S. jobs
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $535 billion
• 468,750 New York jobs are supported by Canada–U.S. trade
• Canada is New York’s largest foreign export market
• Canadians made more than 2 969 000 visits to New York, spending $855 million
• New York residents made 1 663 400 visits to Canada, spending $592 million

A Close Relationship

The dominant New York–Canada trade relationship continued its upward ascent in 2007 with $39.2 billion in bilateral exchange — a growth rate of almost 10% from the previous year. The state exported $13.1 billion in merchandise to its northern NAFTA partner and imported $26.1 billion worth. In fact Canada, the state’s most valuable international destination, purchased nearly one-fifth of New York’s foreign-bound goods.

Industrial strength

New York and Canada enjoy mutually beneficial trade in metals. In 2007, they exchanged $7.5 billion worth, an increase of 6% from the previous year. Bilateral shipments of aluminum, including alloys, totaling $1.8 billion contributed in the manufacture of transportation goods, a leading sector for both partners.

Secure energy

The state of New York purchased close to $8 billion in Canadian energy, a 5% increase from the previous year. New York imported natural gas ($6.3 billion) from the Canadian province of Alberta and electricity from the bordering provinces of Ontario ($342 million) and Quebec ($455 million).

The Empire State

Canadians made nearly 3 million visits to the bright lights of the Big Apple, the natural wonders of Niagara Falls and other attractions, contributing $855 million to the Empire State’s economy. New Yorkers made almost 1.7 million visits and spent $592 million during their visits to the Great White North.

Canada–New York Success Stories

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board invested $200 million in the United States’ first wind energy developer. The Board is investing in Connecticut-based Noble Environmental Power, which plans to bring 282 megawatts of wind-generated electricity online in New York state this year.

The new Ford Edge is among the top sellers for the Ford Motor Company. While the Edge is assembled in Oakville, ON, 80% of its body is produced in Hamburg, NY. At least 18 times a day, a truckload of parts crosses the U.S.–Canada border, destined for Ford’s Oakville plant. Ford has invested more than $200 million in the Hamburg plant for production of the Edge. In fact, the facilities in Hamburg and Oakville are so closely linked that the Hamburg stamping plant is considered an extension of Oakville’s body shop facilities.

The annual Canadian Front: New Films Festival, established in collaboration with Telefilm Canada, the MoMA and the Consulate General of Canada, offers New Yorkers an opportunity to sample some of Canada’s brightest, up-and-coming talents in the film industry. Over the last five years, the festival has grown into a valued channel — developing audiences, promoting brand consciousness of Canada, providing test audiences for buyers, stimulating media interest, and building strategic relationships with the American film industry. A number of films featured at the 2007 festival have sealed U.S. distribution deals, including the film Maurice Richard, which was sold to Palm Pictures, and Congorama, which was sold to Facets (theatrical and DVD) and to the Sundance Channel (broadcast is slated for June 2008).

Anyone walking the streets of New York City has likely seen one of the 850 new bus shelters that were installed in 2007 to place public furniture on the streets of New York and generate advertising revenue. Vertigo Group Inc., headquartered in Toronto, is part of the consortium that put them there. The Toronto-based systems integrator/design and engineering studio claims to be the world leader in energy-efficient lighting, and cites this as the reason they were chosen to supply the backlit bus shelter ad boxes. The overall program will generate over $1 billion in revenue for the city according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the number of bus shelters is expected to grow to 3,300 over the term of the agreement.

June 2008

Tourism

• 2,969,000 New York visits by Canadians, $855 million spent
• 1,663,400 New York visits to Canada, $592 million spent

Jobs

• New York jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 468,750

Merchandise Trade

• Exports to Canada: $13.1 billion
• Imports from Canada: $26.1 billion
• Bilateral trade: $39.2 billion
• Largest export market: Canada

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Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.0749. Merchandise trade is based on total exports and imports for the year 2007. Job numbers are based on 2005 data from a 2006 study commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada’s export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.